Identification card or the like



Jan. 19, 1.954

Filed Aug. 15. 195o W. H. WOLOWITZ IDENTIFICATION CARD OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet l J, .1. ,f a

\ '2a/dress l INVENTOR /I//a/fm/f A Waan/frz lBY fw ATTORNEY w. H. woLownz 2,666,655 IDENTIFICATION CARD OR THl LIKE Jan. 19, 1954 Filed Aug. 15, 195o 2: sheetsfsheet 2 d M. m p G f e C mm E n m myX/w L e 1Y0 6 am I: G, Y/em N dh, 2,/,/ /af Vd//Ha JQHN Dos ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, v1954 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE.

2,666,655 IDENTIFicArIoN CARD 0R THE LIKE William H. `Wolowitz, Washington, D. C. v Application August 15, 195o, seria1No.179,5s3

(c1. cs2-'255 1 Claim'.

This invention relates, in general, to documents or instruments provided with a protective surface, and deals, more particularly. with the provision of documents and instruments within a protective case or shield and adapted to be provided with data or information while sealed within such protective case orshield. The present application is4 a continuation in part of prior copending application Serial. Number 111,902 filed August 23, 1949,"and issued as United States Patent Number 2,520,077 on August 22,1950.

Many business f zstablishmentsV have a charge or credit system wherein thecustomers are furnished with an identification device, commonlyV referred toas a creditcard, bearing, among other information, the name `and address of the cusf tomer entitled to use the card; a statement as to the duration of validity of the card, a space for the signature of thecustomer, and other related data. The signature ofthe customer on the credit or Videntication card is used to verify the signature of the customer on a sales ticket, for example, at the,V time of a transaction toy guard against fraudulent orvv unauthorized use of the credit `or` identication card; Frequently the fraudulent use of Va credit card, or the like, 'goes undetected by reason of ai skillful 4Vchange or alteration in the signatureforother data yonthe credit card, and, in 'many large Yscale establishments, 'such losses involve a veryisizable-amo'unt. In order to' prevent -changepr alteration o'f a signature' or other data onsuch identification cards, the 'cards have been furnished in sealed cases which,r of4 course, requiresthat the cus? tomer be .presentfto `sign the cardbefore it is,y in'-, serted into the case and the casefsealed. This procedure is not practical inmany instances, as,

for exarnp1e in ,the caseof alargeconcern using a system in which new credit cards .are issued periodically for Isuitable creditcontrol, and such cards mailed to the customers.

One ofthe primary objects of invention is to provide an improved .construction and arrangement of a sealed case orshield for `an.

which signature or other writing is not accessi-V ble for change or alteration without mutilating or destroyingthe case.

A further object ofthe invention isftopro-l vide an ,improved vconstruction and arrangement for a sealed card,caseoiishield, or the like', of

this'character, which comprisesa"rexnovable re" producing means;V bywhich a signature orother;` writing or marking may be inscribed on the dataA surface sealed within the case, and said reproducing means thereafter removed so that 'thecompleted card or document is sealed withinthe case and protected against any change v'or"al' teration in the signature or other inscription*A thereon.

Another object cf the inventicii is" to providef' in general, an improved, simplified and inexperif' sive arrangement for a protected document or'A other instrument comprising a transparent 'or .translucent plastic sheet ,having a'data' surfaceyon its rear face for carrying data which is` visi-l" 'ble from the frontface of the transparent plas-f tic sheet and is protected by said front face of l the plastic sheet against soiling and wear.

parts throughoua and inwhich:

Fig. 1 isal plan vieu/*ofthev front of a sealec'if case or shield in the formof a credit card, `forli example,- as preparedin blank' and ready to bei.' completedby writing, printing or otherwisejin-N scribingdata thereon; y Fig. 2 isV a ,view `similar with the invention;

Fig. 3 is an expanded `sectional View on lineflA 3'f-"Y3of Fig'.v 1, looking inthe vdirection of .the`

arrows, and;

Fig.V 4 is an eapanded sectional view similar: to Fig. 3 showingfan alternate form of thisenfi-v bodiment of the invention.

Fig, 5 is a plan view similarto Fig. lfshowing;` another form Yof credit card inaccordance with.:vv the invention asprepared in blank ready for;V

use, and;

Fig. 6 is an expanded sectional view'of Fig. S on line 6"6, lookinginthe direction of the ar-n rows.

Figs. 7-49, inclusive, illustr'atea further' einV bodiment of the invention in which Fig. '7 is* a' plan view of a document or instrument conveying information which `is provided by a trans" parent outer shield having a data carrying sur- 'T face -on-its rearward side which is visible through 1 Fisisae sectoralviev 0f Fgf-Y' aloha 1.111.622

'Figi 's' is affront pianvw f 'the instrument s to Fig. 1 showing the.y completed "crediti card, orthe like,`ini 'accordance A document shown in Fig. 7 as folded and completed as a sealed case in one use of the invention.

While the invention is described in connection with its use as an identification device in the form of a plate, card or tag commonly known as a credit card, it Will be appreciated that the invention is not in any way limited to such use, but rather, is equally adaptable to a wide range and variety of other applications and: uses.

Referringnow, more'particularly, to the drawings, Figs. 1 3, inclusive, disclose a preferred einbodirnent of the invention wherein Fig. 2 illuser trates an example of the general. appearance of. the front of a completed identi'oation plate P; provided in the form of a signaturetypeof fcrediil card, or the like, contained in a.sealed.case or. shield. Such a credit card is shown asV ofthe general kind prepared for use substantiallyfas illustrated in Fig. l with an unsigned signature areaito..beinscribedl with the signature of the person to whom the identification plate is issued, andother blank areas .to be inscribedwith identication data and'infor-mation regardingthe subject and purposeof the credit card. When suchV signature, data and information have been in byI a piecey of. such transparent vor. translucent,

plastic sheet material with the backplateB made of .thin sheet metal or fibre or. composition.r sheet material, or `the like. In. either. construction, the front plate member A madev oftransparent plastic sheet material is providedl on its. inner or rear face, Fig. 3, with a suitable coating or treatment defining whatmay be.l termed a .data

surface ID. on said inner. or rear face of the front plateA.. Asheetofcarbon paper or other suitable reproducing means l5 is vprovided with itsv carbon. face adjacent, saidA data surface il), and. accordingly, when any inscription is. made on either plate member A or B, an. image of suchI inscription. is. reproduced on. the data surface Ill. Preferablywsaidrcarbon paper. |-5 is. provided with a tab portion I6 projecting. out. of. one end of. the case. defined-by the secured plate members A, B,. to. facilitate 1 removalthereof upon` completion of the identication.plateV or credit card,.as vpresently to be described..

The data surface. Il onv the inner or. rear face.

of thecase. or plate member. A is providedinany. suitable manner by a white or light colored. printing ink, paint, vor the like, or by. tinting,

etching or otherwise treating` suchv surface. to.v

provide the same in the manner of a frostingof` any desired color. In.. any case, such data surface I!! resembling ar frosting, tinti'ng, `or the like; defines a distinct' background surface contrasting to the transparency or translucency of the front plastic plate A. The data surface lil otherwise is such that the carbon sheet l5 reproduces thereon an image of an inscription made on either plate member, A or B, and vin such a way that the image is readily visiblefrom 4 the front of the plate P through the transparent case member A and said data surface l.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the identification plate or case P is prepared for use with the folded plate members A, B, secured together along an end edge Il and along a side edge I2, as indicated by the stippling, by means of adhesive, heat and/or pressure or other suitable securing means but in a manner whereby the carbon sheet fl5 may be readilyv removed by a pull on the projecting tab-portion I6; The case, accordingly, is initially secured on three edges which, irr effect, provides the same as a sealed case which preventsaccess to the data surface l0 therein except' by mutilating or deforming the case. The-remaining edge may be partly sealed or. providedwith a ap I3 on one plate member adapted to be'r folded over and secured to the other plate member, as shown in Fig. 2, to seal the case completely along all four edges. To this end,.such.a flap. i3 may be provided w-itlracoating of adhesive` and astrip overlyingv said vadhesive and; adapted to be removed to expose thev adhesive when it is. desired to secure said. flap I3. in providing a completely sealed identification plate or card P after the desired data has.

been provided thereon.

The identicationplate P, asprepared. in blank as shown` in Fig. 1i, may be provided with any suitable preprinted matter indicating thetitle of the document or instrument, advertising matter, directions, rules, etc., of the establishmentissuing the same. Such preprinted matter may. be printed in any suitable. color on the outer or. inner face of either the. front or back plate. members A, B, respectively. Preferably such pre.- printed matter is` printed on. the.. inner face. of

the front plate member. A. at the Sametime that. the data surface l0- is printed thereon,.such thatv the printing process is simplified. andthe pre.-A printedy matterr is protected against wear. by the front plate member A.

In the present examplathe identification plate P isprovided in the general form ofa credit card issued by a gasoline company,` and accordingly, such preprinted'matter is shown. comprising the title of the companyHI,` information 2. indicating the 'area where the signature of the owner of the creditcard is to be inscribed, Wording, 3. showing where the name and address of. the.

owner is to be typed or inscribed', by an address. plate, data l!v designating where. the number ofi the credit card. is tobe typed or written and the expiration date thereof, and wording 5. designating the area for inserting the information. ofv theV license vissued on the owner's vehicle.

The credit card, as thus prepared for use, appears substantially as shown in Fig. 1, ready to be provided with the name, address, signature of. the party to, whom the credit card is issued and the other data, aforesaid. The credit cards in blank, are. advantageously prepared on. a. quantity basis in a manner whereby the names and ad'dresses'of alist of customers may be quickly providedon the cards by means of address plates. and this data also used in mailing the cards to thek customers. As seen inFig. 2, this data would appear in the area 3 and, of course, the same may be typed or written in together with the number and expiration date of the card in the area 4, and also the information in area 5 on the license of the vehicle which is operated by the owner of the credit card.

When lthe credit card thus. provided is. delivered :to the owner, the, signature of theowner.

is readily produced in the' area -2 by any suitable means such as la pencil, stylus, or ball point pen applied directly `to the outer plate member A. Throughthe medium ofthe carbon sheet I5 or othery reproducing means, all the,v foregoing data including the owners signature is reproduced by corresponding yimagesfforined on :the data surface I which are visiblef-throug-hfsaid data surface I3 and the transparent front case member A. As the signature is written, the imgage thereof on the data surface lil isy visible to the writer and this permits the writer tofsee the formation of hissignature as usually written and thus. ensures an accurate-reproduction of the writers usual signature. -Y In theuse of an address plate to provide the data inthe area 3,

. the address plate may be vimpressed on` either the front case -member A or'back case member Bjto produce the same image onY the data surface l0 by means of the carbon sheet |5.

After'thesignature is soprovided,nthe carbon or reproducing sheet: |'5 y.is --readilywithdrawn from the case -by a simple pull on the projecting tabportion I6. In asmuch as the case is sealed along three edges;l the ca sewis sufficiently sealed, for `most vpurposes-in a mannerV whereby the necessary access to the signature and-other data; Withinjthe case'tochange or alter the same cannot be obtained without mutilating or `de;- forming the case which, of course, would indicate that the credit card `hasibeen tamperediwith and ,should not be honored. ,In the event that a completely-sealed case-is-desired.- the same is provided with. the,ap |3,as.aforesaid, coated with Yadhesive, bonding cement or other means l for .securingsaid ap, so.thatthe. case is completelyrsealedalong"all four-Hedges.

The creditcard is then in complete and validated form, as shown in Fig. 2, with all information on the data surfacel li] sealed therein against change or alteration and otherwise visible through said data surface I0 and the transparent front case member A.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in accordance with the invention, sealed identication plates or cards having practically any design and preprinted matter, as aforesaid, may be prepared in quantity and ready, when issued, to be signed and inscribed with selected data in completed form without further handling which, of course, is highly advantageous where the identification plates are mailed out to the many customers of a large concern, and likewise, in various instances where speed and facility are necessary or desirable in issuing a large number of identification plates or credit cards, or the like.

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate form of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1-3, inclusive, wherein a similar identification plate P comprising a folded transparent or translucent plastic sheet has the inner face of both the front plate member A and back plate member B provided with data surfaces Illa. and |0b, respectively. In this form of the invention, the data surface Illa on the inner face of the front plate member serves the same purpose as that described with reference to Figs. 1 3, inclusive, while the data surface Hlb on the back plate cooperates therewith to provide a more pronounced and deeper contrasting background for the data reproduced on the data surface lila. If desired, the carbon sheet I5 may be provided with car bon on both faces, such that the signature and other data inscribed will be reproduced in dupli- 6 cate,aligned imagesl onboth the ydata surfaces Illaand |01?, which together" providev a darker, andmore pronounced showing through the trans.- parent front plate member A after the/carbonv sheet l5 has been removed, as aforesaid. f 1 Figs. l5; and v6 disclose a further embodimen of ,-,thexinvention -which'is generallysimilarA in. construction and use to that describedgwith reference to Figs. 1-3, inclusive, except that the dataV surface is provided on the inner face of the back plate member B While the removable reproducing sheet comprises a carbon layer 26 having carbon on both faces and an overlying layer fof light-colored onion skin or tissue paper 21. adjacent .the transparent or translucent front plate memberV A. Accordingly,-as the signature or any other data is inscribed on the front iplate' member A, Van image thereof is formed on the datasurface 20 through the adjacent back face of the double-faced carbon layer 2B, Fig. .6. At

the :same time, the front face of said carbon :layr- 26 forms; on the tissuepaper 2l' asimilar image of the signaturewhich is visible to the writer.' throughlthe transparent front case member: A. This, likewise,` permits the writer. to see- 'the'y formation of his signature as usually writtengand thus; ensures an accurateY reproduction ofthe writers usual signature on the data vsurface 20."

Figs. '7i-9, inclusive, illustrate. another j form of invention which incorporates .thei'genera'l prins ciples of that described withv reference to :'Figs.'` l.-3,- inclusive,v in .providing a document or.' in.- strument with a protective outer surface defined by'a similarsheet of transparent' ortransluce'nt plastic materialV 30' having a .data surfacel3|" such as frostinggor'the like, printed `or otherwise; formed on the rear face thereof. 'i A carbonsheet' is provided with its carbon faceadjacentsaidl data surfacev 3| and preferably said carbon sheet 35 is removably attached along one edge to the plastic sheet 30 as by a lm of adhesive 36, Fig.` 8. The carbon sheet 35 may, of course, extend the full length of the plastic sheet 30 for use in providing a document or instrument in any enlarged size in the form of a permit, certificate, license, diploma, map, or other valuable paper on which a signature and other data may be written, typed or otherwise inscribed by means applied to the plastic sheet 30 to reproduce an image of the inscribed data on the data surface 3|, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1-3, inclusive. Likewise, the document may be provided with preprinted data on the data surface 3| such as the title of the document,

wording indicating where there is to'be typed the name and address of the person to whom the document is issued, and wording indicating the area of the signature of the validating oflicer to be inscribed, substantially as shown in Fig. '7, for example.

When the signature and other desired data is inscribed on the data surface 3| through the `medium of the carbon sheet 35, the carbon sheet is torn off whereupon the completed document or instrument may be used flat and unfolded, as seen in Fig. 8, as for example, in the manner of a license to be hung on a wall, or as a document used in a file or book and subject to wear because of frequent handling. The plastic sheet 3|] protects data surface 3l on the rear face thereof against soiling and wear due to frequent handling and otherwise provides a stronger and more durable document or instrument than conventional paper, and which, if desired, may be washed to clean the same Without marring the data on the data surface 3|.

As illustrated: in I'igs.` 7` andY 9, When thecarb'on Sheet" 35* has been removed, this Vform: o'fthe invention may also bey provided asA a sealed 'case' by? using the top portion of thev plastic sheet 39' for the inscribed: data and folding thereunderV the' bottom portion 30a andv securing these top and'. bottom portions together by any suitable means such as adhesive or binding'cement along the` edges thereof as indicated by the stippling 38, Fig. 9; In this regard, the frosting 3ly on the'return folded bottom portion 30a, of the plastic` sheet serves asa background for'the'inscribed data on thev data surface 3i' onl the' upper portion of the sheet to provide for a deeper and more' pronounced showingv of such data` through theY transparent front portion of the case shown in Fig. 9*.

' While the invention has been: described in detail withspecic examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only inasmuch as it Will bei apparent that there' are numerous possibleZV modications andV variations in the construction, arrangement and general combination of elements and details which fall Within the spirit: and scope of this invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all'` respects as illustrative` and not restrictive,

the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather thanV by the fore-r going description, withA all changes falling withinthe scope; meaning, and range of equivalency of the claim intended t'ov be embraced therein.

' What isclaimed is:

A sealed case comprising a pair of front and back case-members provided from plastic sheet material, a contrastingy frosted surface which is relatively'fhard andl smooth provided directly on the inner faces of both of said' case members,

8lthe contrasting frosted surfaceV on the inner face of the front case member dening a datav surface adapted' to receive aninscription whichy is visible from the outer face of' said front case member, a removable reproducing sheet associated With said data surface adapted to reproduce on said data surface an image of' an inscription made on a case member and transmitted to said reproducing sheet, the contrasting frosted surface on the inner face of the back case member serving as a background for the image reproduced on said data surface whereby said image has a pronounced Well defined appearance, said case members being securedftogethe-r to seal said data surface in the case against access, and said case having a preformed passage providing for the removal of said reproducing sheet without mutilating or destroyingsaid sealed case.

WILLIAM H. WOLO-WITZ.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

